The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-07-14
CLEVELAND
grha President Declines to be AT
the Annual G.. A. R.
Reunion.
A Noble, Magnaninous and Patri-
otto Protest Against SANDER
and Vituperatlon.

ST.. LOUIS, July Mayor Frances, of
this city, received letter from President
Cleveland declining the invitation of
citizens of st. Louis to attend the annual
encampment of the Grand Army of the
Republic, which is to take place in Sep
TENDER. After expressing his eradication
at the invitation from citizens and from
the committee, ne expresses regret that
several official acts, which, ne says, were
done under restraint of the oath he had
taken as president, had brought out ex-
pressions from prominent members of the
Grand Army of the Republic which con-
strained him to review his acceptance,
and he now believed that he would be an
unwelcomo visitor, and feels hurt at the
wanton attack growing out of his official
acts to which the Grand Army has Taken
exception. He has received threats of per-
sonal violence from scores of
unbalanced and misguided men,
and feels that the high Office
which he holds should not be subjected
to such indignity. He also learns that
many Grand Army posts signitied their
intention to remain at home, If the pres
ident visits the encampment, and, as this
is their encampment, he desires to throw
nothing in the way of bringing them all
together. As this was the first southern
city in which an encampment had been
held, and he believed that the least discord
might retard the progress of the senti-
ment of the common brotherhood which
the Grand Army of the Republic has so
good an opportunity to increase and
foster, he feels that he ought not to be
He Of Ha thara
some determined to denounce him and
his official acts, and he does not wish to
afford them an opportunity. he closes
with the hope that the encampment may
illustrate the highest patriotism of Amer
lean citizenship.
TEXT OF THE LETTER
ST.. Louis, July 1.-THE following is the
full text of the letter from President
Cleveland to Mayor Frances of this city.
1t will be remembered that Mayor
Frances headed a committee of twenty
five representative citizens of st. Louis,
who verbally extended, some weeks ago,
an invitation to the president to visit this
city during the holding of the Grand
Army encamp ment in September next.
"ExEoUT1vE MANSION, WASHINGTON, July
4, 1887. Hon. David R. Frances, Mayor
and Chairman, My Dear Sir:-When
received the extremely cordial and gratlfy'
ing invitation from the citizens OF
st. Louis, rendered by a number of hel
representative men, to visit that city
during the national encampment of the
Grand Army of the Republic, l .hao
been contemplating for some time the
acceptance of an invitation from that Or
ganization to the same effect, and hac
considered the pleasure which it would
afford me if it should be possible to meet
not only members of the Grand Army
but the people of st. Louis and Other
cities in the west, which the occasion
would give me an opportunity to visit
The exactions of my public duties
felt to be so uncertain, however
that when first confronted
by the delegations of which you were tn
head, expected to do no more at tina
time than to promise the consideration o
the double invitation rendered me, ant
express the pleasure it would give me tt
accept the same thereafter, if possible.
But the cordially and sincerity of you
presentation, reinforced by the heartines
of the people who surrounded you, so i'm
pressed me that l could not resist tn
feeling which prompted me to assure yo'
on the spot that would be with you ant
the Grand Army of the Republic at tn
time designated, if nothing happened il
the meantime to absolutely prevent m,
leaving Washington.
Immediately upon the public announce
ment of this conclusion, expressions EN-
snating from certain important member
of the Grand Army of the Republic, an
increasing in volume and virulence, cor
strained me to review my acceptance
these invitations. The expressions rt
ferred to go to the extent of declaring tha
JwouId be an unwelcomed guest at the tim
and place of the national encampmen
This statement is based, as well as l ca
Judge, upon certain official acts of mill
involving important public interests, don
under the restraints and obliga
tlons of my oath of office, whic
do not appear to accor
with the wishes of some members OF tn
Grand Army of the Republic. refuse t
believe that this organization, founde
upon patriotic ideas, composed YER
larpely of men entitled to lasting homo
and consideration, and whose croWnln
glory it should he that they, as America
citizens, as we'll as veteran soldiers, deem
it part of its mission to compass any OF
iect or purpose by attempting to lntlm
date the executive or ooerce those VINO az
charged with making and executing tn
laws; and the expressions to which
have referred Indicate such prevalence
of unfriendly feeling and such a menac
to an occasion which should be harmonl
ous. peaceful and cordial, that they car
not be ignored.
81 beg you to understand that l am nc
conscious of any act of mine Whlc
should make me fear to meet the Gran
Army of the Republic or any other al
semblage of my fellow citizens. Inc az
count of my official stewardship Is AWAY
ready for presentation to my country
men.
1 should not be frank if l failed TO Col
TESS, while disclaiming all resentmen
that I have been hurt by the unworth
and wanton attacks upon me growing OF
of this matter, and the reckless name
; in which my actions and motives hay
been misrepresented, both publicly an
privately, for which, however, the Gran
Army of the Republic, as body, is by
means responsible. The threats of pei
sonal violence and harm in case shou
undertake the trip in question, whi'
scores of misguided, unbalanced men, u
der the stimulation OF excited Zee